Chuks Aneke pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, but the Alex couldn't prevent Brentford from stretching their unbeaten run to 19 games to leave them clear at the top of the League One table.

"We know we've come up against one of the best teams, certainly in this league," said Davis, pictured.

"Hopefully for them they get promoted. They deserve to with that group of players.

"They've got good players who can all play and are all comfortable in possession. Their movement is terrific, so you've got to keep concentration and at times we didn't.”

Crewe Chronicle

AFTER watching his side beaten 3-1 by Brentford, Crewe Alex boss Steve Davis said: "We knew this would be a tough game and I wanted us to do better than we did. But we kept going and had opportunities but they were deserved winners.

"We have to lift ourselves and we need to take 11 men to Port Vale next week. They'll have to stand up in the atmosphere and play better. We need to forget it now, we can't change it.

"It's up to us, every game is a cup final and we have to win enough games to stay up.

"We know we have come up against the best team in this league, they deserve to get promoted.

"We wanted to pack the midfield to stop them playing through and, without playing well, we stayed in the game in the first half. But we didn't do well in possession, we were timid and nervous.